SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – History rewrote itself inside Murphy Gymnasium on Friday night, as sophomore Jayme Zoeckler became the 10^th player in program history to eclipse 1,000 career assists, as the Trinity High School product dished out a career-high 47 dimes. However, despite a strong first set, the Notre Dame College volleyball team (8-12, 2-2 MEC) fell in four sets to Wheeling University (10-6, 4-0 MEC). Alongside Zoeckler, freshman Ryleigh Ronald and senior Carli Derda turned in career nights, as the duo paced the NDC offense.
 
The Falcons soared to an early 4-1 lead after three kills by junior Kelsie Palmer. NDC continued to maintain an 11-8 lead, following an ace from sophomore Kiley Kalina. After a short Cardinal run, Notre Dame claimed seven of the next nine points to regain 21-16 advantage. Ronald polished off the first set 25-22 after her third kill of the frame.
 
In the second set, Wheeling bounced back by claiming a 13-4 lead. WU went on to win the second stanza 25-10.
 
The two sides would battle to begin the third set. Notre Dame earned an 8-7 lead after a pair of kills by senior Kaye Dregalla. Wheeling would respond with a 6-0 run to move in front 13-8. The Falcons would work the score back to 19-16 WU, following a 6-3 run. NDC scored all six points via kills by Ronald, Palmer and Dregalla. However, the Cardinals rattled off six of the last seven points to claim the set 25-17.
 
Notre Dame began the fourth set ahead by a score of 4-1. Wheeling flipped the script by moving in front 12-11. The Cardinals would hold the lead for the remainder of the contest, winning the final frame 25-19.
 
As aforementioned, the NDC offense was paced by the middle blocking duo of Ronald and Derda. The two Falcons posted career nights for kills (12 and 11), while generating hit percentages of .385 and .368, respectively.
 
Dregalla and Palmer joined the attack with 10 kills apiece, with Zoeckler facilitating the Falcons offense with a career-high 47 assists.
 
Defensively, Kalina anchored Notre Dame with a game-high 18 digs, as junior Ellie Schenk added 10.
 
In comparing the two sides, NDC tallied 53 kills on a .142 hit percentage, to go with 52 assists, 59 digs, two blocks and two service aces. WU logged 57 kills on a .366 hit percentage, to go with 53 assists, 63 digs, 12 blocks and four service aces.
 
The Notre Dame College volleyball team will be back in action on Tuesday Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. when they travel to Alderson Broaddus University.